Carton-packing machine



Dec. 28 1926.

W. D. KIMBALL ET AL V CARTON PACKING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet EEE Emmmzwzw mzwmm WW w Awe nxggzv rgk M d. y M f A TTORNE Y Dec. zsfl''ze. 1,612,444

4 V w. D. KIMBALL ET AL CARTON PACKING MACHINE Filed y '2. 1&522 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 OOOOOOOOOOQOOOO Hlllllllllllllllillli 1 v VENT R M; ,0. 4' 31/ KM f 43M A TTORNE Y Patented Dc.- 28, 1926.

WALLACE DQKLMBALL .AND ARTHUR E.

KUCKLINSKY, or NYACK, NEW YORK.

,MENT CORYORATIO'N, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

BIDEOU' I, OF NEW YORK, AND FREDERICK ASSIGNOR-S TO STANDARD SEALING EQUIP- CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CARTON-PACKING MACHINE.-

Application filed. Ju1y.7,

The present application relates to apparatus used in the packing of canned goods, and the like, for shipment, and relates particularly to the packing and sealing ofcartons made of fiber composition, or similar material. I

Canned goods, such as fruits, vegetables, evaporated milk, and the like, are commonly put up in metallic containers, such as the so-called tin-cans, for shipment andsubsequent delivery to the consumer. The products are canned at the factory and the cans are shipped to points of distribution in boxes or cartons, the cans being arranged in tiers to fill the cartons. In the factory the cans are filled and sealed up ready for shipment, after which they are labelled and passed on in condition to be packed for shipment. After the labeling operation the cans are commonly placed'on a; traveling belt or other conveyer and are thus delivered to the packer who takes the individual cans off the belt and places each of them in the shippin carton. .The filled cartons are then seale for shipment, which operation is commonly accomplished by applying a cement or silicate to the carton flaps an subsequently pressing the flaps togetheruntil the silicate has set. The sealing opera-- tion may be accomplished by hand or, as is the prevalent practice in the larger shipp ng plants, by automatic machines which carry out all of the steps in the sealing process and deliver the cartons'ready for shipment. Shipping cartons of this type are commonly of such size as to hold a considerable number of the smaller cans or articles which are contained in them. The time required to pack these cartons is thus appreciable and 0 constitutes one of the most expensive operations in the entire process of putt-ingthe product into condition for transportation.

Cartons composed of afiber composition have almost universally replaced wood boxes,

or other more expensive containers. Such cartons form very durable containers if properly sealed, but some difiiculty has been encountered in obtaining a proper sealing of the carton flaps and accordin ly stitching the flaps together with wire sometimes been resorted to. Cartons sealed in this manner are superior'to those having imroperl silicated flaps, but are far infer- 101' to t ose in which the flaps are perfectly- 1922. Serial No. 573.259.

cemented together. The individual cans which contain the product being shipped consist of a body portion of sheet iron stamped out of thin material and subsequently shaped into the proper conformajl. The iron body of the can is covered mm a thin coating of tinor other metal 01' alloy to produce a surface of non-rusting character, and otherwise of qualities desirable for the purpose for which the cans are to be used. I

It is a principal object of this invention to provide an apparatus for packing individual containers in shipping cases or cartons which apparatus may be operated by a single worker and by means of which the packing operation may. be completed in a fraction of the time required when the operation is carried out by hand. It is a further object to provide a carton packing apparatus of this type in which one entire tier of cans may be placed in the carton at a single operation, the apparatus being arranged to pick up the proper number of cans to complete a tier in the carton.

It is also an object to provide an a paratus of this type in which the pac ing operation is accomplished without jolting orotherwise handling the cans roughly, and in which the cans are handled in such manner that there is no likelihood of denting them or opening any of the seams so that leakage may occur.

It is a further object to provide a complete apparatus in which cartons may be packed as above described. and in which the filled cartons may be sealed and turned out ready for shipment, any or all of the packing and sealing operations being performed manually or by automatic means as desired. It is a still further object to provide in a carton packing apparatus of the above type a lifting element arranged to pick up the individual cans selectively, those cans in which'the contents have suffered a material fermentation or have otherwise been spoiled being usually rejected by the liftin device,

and to further provide a means or indleating which of the cans are defective.

In carrying out our invention we commonly provide a table or similar flat surface to receive. the cans 'as they come in closely grouped arrangement from the labelling process. Near thistable is mounted a i have found. however, an

cans into position above the carton to be.

tilled and then to lower them into the carton and deposit them in place, after which the lifting element, is returned to its initial position. This operation may be repeated in rapid succession, the movement the lifting element, being controlled manually or by automatic means, as desired. We employ in our invention a lifting element of any appropriate character, such as a suction means "for holding the cans firmly in contact with the lifting element, a succession of pockets or fingers to surround pick up the individual cans, and the like. We

electroma netic lifting element is particularly applicable for the purpose, and we accordingly include this type of apparatus in the principal embodiment of our invention. Where desirable, we provide a system whereby a defective can will be noted andindicated, this system being preferably actuated by the action of the bul ed end of a defective can in contacting wit the lifting element. We also prefer to employ our improved packing apparatus in conjunction wit a sealing machine for the filled cartons, but the packing apparatus may be used alone or in any other connection and still be within the scope of our invention.

We have illustrated a preferred embodiment of our invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating an apparatus embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view showing one of the lifting elements; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one feature of our invention; Fig. 4

is a vertical sectional view taken at ri ht angles to Fig. 1 and illustrating a portion of our apparatus; and Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of the machine.

Sealed cans after being labeled and otherwise. put in condition for shipment are de-' livered along a traveling belt or other con- Y veyer '1 on to an appropriate receiving table 2. This table 2 may be supported at the desired height by a frame work 3 and serves as a support for thccans 4 which are about to be packed into the shipping cartons. We preferably support the carton 5 which is to be filled in a convenient position near the receiving table 2 so that the cans may be transferred from the table to the carton by traversing only a short distance. A roller table 6 maybe mounted upon aframe work 7 to facilitate the positioning of the carton and to further facilitate the discharge of vthe filled carton after it has been packed.

The empty carton may be pushed along the amass-a 1 table Gas shown may be -irovidcd. (lne of these stops 8 may be provided ahead of the carton so that, the carion may be pushed up against it for proper location, whereupon the stop 8 at the. rear of the carton may be elevated into the position shown to thus preventthe carton from being displaced along the roller table. during ilic filling operation. The guides 8 are here shown actw ated by the control lever 9, but it is evident that any desired actuating mechanism may be provided. Furthermore, side guides for preventing lateral displacement. of the carton on the table during the filling operation may provided in certain instances where desirable. v

As the cans are'delivercd from the conveying belt 1 the operator may group them on the table 2 into some such position as ranged at the rear of the table to retain the cans and additional flanges 11 may be provided along the sides of the table, as best shown in Fig. 5, so that the cans may readily be grouped in parallel rows in the same manner as they will stand whenpacked .in the carton. Positioned above the group of cans 4 is a lifting element 12 arranged to descend upon the group of cans and lift them oil of the table 2. Various types of lifting elements may be employed, but we prefer to use an electromagnet for'this urpose. The electromagnet 12, or other" ifti'ng member, is supportedby an arm 13 having ajpivotal connection with the. frame ofthe apparatus at 14, which pivot point is located intermediate the table 2 and thesupport for the carton 5. Bylowering the elec'troinagnet into the position shown in Fig. 1, the magnetic at-- group of cans is lifted oil the table 2 and I transported in the direction of the carton 51. For'the purpose of guiding the cansinto 1; 1e 15 is provided, which may be somewhat funnel shaped as shown so that the descending cans will automatically be centered in cor rectrelation to the side walls of the carton. Turning of the lifting arm 3 may be effected manually or by power driven means, as desired, and we have here shown a gear 16 secured to the pivotal axis 14' and a pinion 17 with crank handle 18 to be turned by the operator to effect transportation of the cans from the supporting table to the carton.

The electromagnet 12 may simply be a continuous magnetic surface maintained in magnetized condition by suitable means, but due to slight irregularities which may occur mouth of the carton a special entrance placed.

non-magnetic portion 25 contacts with the comprises essentially a source contents results,

enunciati'ng mechanism in the structure of the cans, and for other reasons, we prefer to constitute the lifting element of a plurality of electromagnets each of which is arranged to descend upon and attract a single can. The individual electromagnets may be actuated b any suitable source of'direct' current, S1101 as a storage battery 19-having suitable leads 20 which may conveniently be carried by the supporting arm 13. The leads '20 serve to furnish current to the exciting windings of the individual magnets, which windings may be connected to the current source in the desired electrical arrangement. Referring to Fig. 2 each of the individual eleotromagnets consists of 'a portion 21 of magnetic material around which an exciting winding 22 is Thus upon supplying current to the exciting winding, which may be done by means of a switch 23 provided at some convenient point in series with the actuating battery 19, the portion 21 of the electromagnet will be magnetized and will serve to attract'a can and lift it when the supporting arm 13 for the magnets is turned about its pivot.

v The contacting face of the magnetic portion 21 is arranged so that it will engage the raised portion or rim 24 of the can, and disposed centrallyofthe portion 21 is a brass rod or other member 25 of non-magnetic material which is above the central portion of the can. We have found that if a can is defective and fermentation of the the ends of the can invariably become bulged. When this occurs the bulged top of the can and prevents the portion 21 of the magnet from coming in contact with the edges of the can. The strength of the magnet is so regulated that unless actual contact between the can and magnetic portion 21 occurs, the can will not be lifted due to the fact that insuflicient attractive force is exerted on it. Thus the apparatus will be effective to reject cans in which the contents have suliered a material amount of fermentation, such cans being left on the supporting table 2 and not transported to the carton.

Some difiiculty may be encountered in that a can which is rejected by the lifting "ele-' ment may be slid along the surface of the supporting table and perhaps be pushed off onto the floor. For this reason it may in certain instances be desirable to provide some means whereby the operator may be informed as to which of the cans are defective before he actually begins to turn the supporting arm 13 and lift the cartons from the table 2. To this end we may providea system similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3 which 26 of electrical energy associated with an indicating or 27 vhaving appropriate circuits leadin to the individual elecannunciator 27 may consist of small glow lamps, buzzers, or other appropriate devices arranged or numbered ursuch manner that actuation of any one of the indicating devices will inform the operator as to which can is defective. y

There is provided an electrical circuit associated with each can, which circuit 'may comprise the current source 26, one of the indicating elements 27, and the corresponding one of the individual electromagnets. The main lead 28 coming from one side of the battery 26 may, for instance, be grounded on to the frame 3 of the apparatus so that all of the cans 4 are maintained at ground potential inasmuch as they are in contact with the metallic supporting table 2 which is in turn in'electrical connection with the frame 3. The various circuits 29 leading from the respective indicating elements 27 may be attached to the respective non-magnetic portions 25 of'the individual electromagnets. Thus, in the ordinary course of operation when the can is lifted by the electromagnet and the member 5 does not come in contact with the can, the annunciator circuits will be open and none of the indicating elements 27 will be actuated. However, in case the top of the can is bulged contact will be made between the end of the can and the member 25, which contact will serve to complete the annunciator xcircuit corresponding to this particular caniand will actuate the pro er one of the indicating elements 27 accor in ly. The operator will thus be informe as to a defective can and he may remove this can and substitute a sound one in its place.

In the operation of the machine the operator will group the cans 4 on to the table 2 .in such arrangement as they will assume when packed in the carton. With the aid of the guide flanges provided on the table such arrangementof the cans may be effected by single sweeping movement of the arm. The operator will then lower the electromagnetic lifting element 12 into the position shown in Fig. 1 and actuate the various electromagnets by throwing in the switch 23. The crank 18 is'then turned with the result that the supporting arm 13 together with the electromagnet 12 and the group of cans 4 is transported to a position above the carton 5 with the cans projecting into the mouth of the carton. In this position the switch 23 may be opened whereupon the magnets will release the cans and permit themto drop into position in the carton. This operation may be accomplished in a short time and may-be repeated indefinitely without undue efiort on the part of the operator.

- After the carton is filled. it is pushed along the roller table 6, which table may conve'n gtromagnets. ,The individual elements of the ill] ientiy Zea-dd to a carton seaiing eppemtus 3G, preferebiy cf the type iiiiistreteii in em cepemiing eppiicatien Seriai No. 396,362, fiieci July 35,1920. Suiiicient space is ieft eetween the paint Where the carten is packezi and the initial e id 0f the seeiing machine sc that the operator may siiicete the carton flaps and send the carton en irate the gei'essing mechanism of the sealing machine 3% cieim:

Apparatus of cilees ciesciiiieti, can prising a, support fer the carton, SEELUPG t for the cans; to be peeked, :2. member fa r cm.-

rying a number of cane eei" J pit My 01: magnetized L fiLtYctand treimpeitmg active cans n eens assccieted c P viziuei 1 l tizeei eiements pceitie-iieii centi'eiiy of Lespective eiemeiit-s te engage the end 01"- Which is materieiiy buigei me thereby cause said can in be rejected,

2. Apparatus of the ciass ciescribed comprising a support for the carton a support for the cans to be packed, it mem er for car i-ying a number of said csns comprising a, plurality of electromeg'nets each of which magnets serve to attract and transport a can, said magnets engaging the cans on their protruiing edges, a member of non-magnetic materiel associated with said magnets em? I enter emece V ciispese Within the portion engaging the rim or said can, seici non-magnetic member engaging with the top (if a can its end is bulged to thereby erevent Contact between the magnet anti rim 0}? the can and cause the can to be jecte by the iifting; member.

3. Apparatus cf the ciess ciescribed comprising a supportfer the CEHfiOH a suppert fee: the aiticies is he pacite, a member for carrying & piureiity sf said articles, means for trensperting saiei member to the certen CG HI'LZ EYiSiHQ pi eteai suppe rting arm hey-viiig its pivot peint tiispieceei from the support, fer the eiirection 02? movement aid ic whereby said cerrying member is rmseq turning; said arm about its pivot said carrying member being so positioned centinueci Five-tel movement 01" arm causes the articles t0 the mouth of the carten. testimony whereof I afiix my signe- EVALLACE D. KIMBALL.

In ture.

In ture.

tui'e,

ARTHUR E. RDDEOUT. testimony whereof I afix my signa- FREDERICK KUCMJINSKY.

testimony whereof I atfix my signe- 

